TWI883777B - Electrical connector combination and composite female electrical connector for electronic card and male electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connector combination and a composite female electrical connector for an electronic card and a male electrical connector. The composite female electrical connector includes a first insulation structure, a plurality of first terminals, a plurality of second terminals and a metal shell. The first insulation structure includes a base and a tongue plate. The tongue plate extends from one side of the base along a first direction. The tongue plate includes a tongue plate body and an accommodating groove. The accommodating groove is used to accommodate an electronic device. Card. The plurality of first terminals are combined with the first insulating structure, and the first butt portions of the first terminals are located in the accommodating groove and contact the plurality of contacts of the electronic card. A plurality of second terminals are combined with the first insulation structure, and the second butt portions of the first terminals are located on the second surface. The metal shell is arranged on the first insulation structure, and the metal shell surrounds the tongue plate to form a receiving space for a male electrical connector to be connected.

Description

Electrical connector assembly and electronic card and male electrical connector dual-accommodating composite female electrical connector

The present invention relates to the technical field of electrical connectors, and in particular to an electrical connector assembly and a composite female electrical connector that can accommodate both an electronic card and a male electrical connector.

In order to connect with other electronic devices or electronic modules to complete signal transmission, electronic devices usually have multiple interfaces, such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface on a laptop or tablet, the HDMI or DisplayPort interface for image transmission, or the interface for inserting an electronic card. Due to the trend of thinning portable electronic devices, the thickness of laptops or tablets has been greatly reduced, and the overall size has also been reduced for easier carrying, so the number of interfaces is often reduced to accommodate the thin design. In some electronic devices, there may be multiple functions that require corresponding interfaces. For example, a tablet computer that can communicate, an interface for placing an ID card, and an interface for a Universal Serial Bus (USB) are all necessary interfaces. How to set up multiple interfaces while meeting the requirements of a thin design is an important issue in current electrical connector design.

In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly and a composite female electrical connector that can accommodate both an electronic card and a male electrical connector, integrating the interface of the electronic card and the interface of the male electrical connector into a female electrical connector to solve the problem of the prior art that multiple dispersed interfaces are not conducive to the thin design of electronic devices.

An embodiment of the composite female-end electrical connector for accommodating both an electronic card and a male-end electrical connector of the present invention includes a first insulating structure, a plurality of first terminals, a plurality of second terminals, and a metal shell. The first insulating structure includes a base and a tongue plate, the tongue plate extends from one side of the base along a first direction, the tongue plate includes a tongue plate body and a receiving groove, the tongue plate body has a first surface and a second surface arranged opposite to each other, the receiving groove is formed on the first surface, and the receiving groove is used to receive an electronic card. A plurality of first terminals are combined with the first insulating structure, each of the first terminals has a first docking portion, a first fixing portion, and a first welding portion, the first docking portion of the first terminal is located in the receiving groove and contacts the plurality of contacts of the electronic card. A plurality of second terminals are combined with the first insulating structure, each of the second terminals has a second docking portion, a second fixing portion and a second welding portion, and the second docking portion of the first terminal is located on the second surface. A metal shell is disposed on the first insulating structure, the metal shell surrounds the tongue plate to form a receiving space, and one end of the metal shell forms a docking interface for a male electrical connector to dock, and a plurality of third terminals of the male electrical connector are in contact with the second terminals.

In another embodiment, it further includes a card ejection mechanism, which includes a push member, a lever member and an operating member. The lever member is pivotally connected to a rotating shaft body of the first insulating structure, the push member is movably arranged in the accommodating groove, one end of the push member abuts against the electronic card, the other end of the push member abuts against one end of the lever member, the operating member abuts against the other end of the lever member, and the operating member and the push member are located on opposite sides of the rotating shaft body, and the accommodating groove opens at the front end of the tongue plate.

In another embodiment, the metal housing has a guide groove extending along a first direction, the pusher has a protrusion movably engaged with the guide groove, and the pusher moves along the first direction by the protrusion movably engaged with the guide groove.

In another embodiment, the operating member has a reset recess, the metal housing has a reset spring, the edge of the reset recess abuts against the reset spring, when force is applied to push the operating member, the reset spring produces elastic deformation, when the force is released, the elastic force of the reset spring pushes the edge of the reset recess to reset the operating member.

In another embodiment, the operating member further includes a deformable beam and a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is disposed on the deformable beam. When force is applied to push the operating member, the protrusion interferes with the metal housing to cause the deformable beam to elastically deform.

In another embodiment, the metal housing further includes a clamping spring sheet, which is bent toward the receiving slot and interferes with the electronic card and abuts against the electronic card.

In another embodiment, the metal housing further includes at least one first limiting spring sheet, which is bent toward the first surface of the tongue plate to limit the male electrical connector.

In another embodiment, the metal housing further includes at least one second limiting spring sheet, which is bent toward the second surface of the tongue plate to limit the male electrical connector.

In another embodiment, an embodiment of an electrical connector assembly of the present invention includes the above-mentioned electronic card and male electrical connector dual-accommodation composite female electrical connector and a male electrical connector. The male electrical connector includes a second insulating structure and a plurality of third terminals. The second insulating structure includes a docking groove, and the docking groove is combined with the tongue plate of the first insulating structure so that an inner surface of the docking groove covers the accommodating groove. The plurality of third terminals are combined with the second insulating structure and extend into the docking groove. When the docking groove is combined with the tongue plate, the third terminal contacts the second terminal.

Please refer to Figures 1 and 2, which show an embodiment of the electronic card and male electrical connector dual-accommodation composite female electrical connector of the present invention. The electronic card and male electrical connector dual-accommodation composite female electrical connector 1 of this embodiment includes a first insulating structure 10, a plurality of first terminals 20, a plurality of second terminals 30 and a metal shell 40.

Please refer to FIG. 6 , the first insulating structure 10 includes a base 11, a tongue 12, a first limiting core 13 and a second limiting core 14. The tongue 12, the first limiting core 13 and the second limiting core 14 extend from one side of the base 11 along a first direction L1, and the tongue 12, the first limiting core 13 and the second limiting core 14 are perpendicular to the base 11, and the tongue 12 is located between the first limiting core 13 and the second limiting core 14.

The tongue plate 12 includes a tongue plate body 121 and a receiving slot 122. The tongue plate body 121 has a first surface 1211 and a second surface 1212 disposed opposite to each other. The receiving slot 122 is formed on the first surface 1211. The receiving slot 122 of this embodiment is a concave structure formed on the first surface 1211. The receiving slot 122 is used to receive an electronic card C.

Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , a plurality of first terminals 20 are combined with the first insulating structure 10, and each first terminal 20 has a first mating portion 20a, a first fixing portion 20b, and a first welding portion 20c. The first mating portion 20a of the first terminal 20 is combined with the tongue plate body 121 and is located in the receiving groove 122 and contacts the plurality of contacts of the electronic card C so as to form an electrical connection with the electronic card C. The electronic card C of this embodiment is a Subscriber Identity Module card (SIM card), such as a nano SIM card, and the number of the first terminals 20 is six, and the first mating portions 20a are divided into two rows, front and rear. The first fixing portion 20b is fixed to the base 11 of the first insulating structure 10, and the first welding portion 20c is exposed from a side of the base 11 away from the tongue plate 12 so as to be welded to the welding pad of the circuit board P.

A plurality of second terminals 30 are combined with the first insulating structure 10, and each second terminal 30 has a second docking portion 30a, a second fixing portion 30b and a second welding portion 30c. The second docking portion 30a of the second terminal 30 is combined with the tongue plate body 121 and is located on the second surface 1212. The second docking portion 30a is used to dock with the third terminal of a male electrical connector to achieve electrical connection. The second fixing portion 30b is fixed to the base 11 of the first insulating structure 10, and the second welding portion 30c is exposed from a side of the base 11 away from the tongue plate 12 so as to be welded to the pad of the circuit board P. The configuration of the plurality of second terminals 30 of this embodiment complies with the USB 3.1 Type A specification. The number of second terminals 30 is nine, and the second docking portion 30a is divided into two rows, front and rear.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the first welding portions 20c of the plurality of first terminals 20 and the second welding portions 30c of the plurality of second terminals 30 of the present embodiment are arranged in a row along a second direction L2, and the second direction L2 is perpendicular to the first direction L1. The plurality of first welding portions 20c are respectively arranged on both sides of the second welding portion 30c. The first welding portion 20c of the present embodiment is divided into three left and right pins, and is arranged on both sides of the nine second welding portions 30c arranged in a row.

Please refer to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The first insulating structure 10 is composed of a first insulating portion 10a, a second insulating portion 10b and a third insulating portion 10c. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of first terminals 20 are combined with the first insulating portion 10a by an embedded injection molding process, and a receiving groove 122 is formed on the surface of the first insulating portion 10a. A plurality of second terminals 30 are combined with the second insulating portion 10b by an embedded injection molding process, and a first limiting core 13 and a second limiting core 14 are formed on the second insulating portion 10b. The first insulating portion 10 a and the second insulating portion 10 b are assembled with a structure of a locking column and a locking hole to form a part of the base 11 , the tongue plate 12 , the first limiting core 13 and the second limiting core 14 .

As shown in FIG5 , the third insulating portion 10c is combined with the first insulating portion 10a and the second insulating portion 10b by an embedded injection molding process or a coating injection molding process to form a complete base 21, and the first welding portion 20c of the first terminal 20 and the second welding portion 30c of the second terminal 30 extend rearward from one side of the third insulating portion 10c. As shown in FIG6 , the electronic card and male end electrical connector dual-accommodation composite female end electrical connector 1 of this embodiment further includes a card ejection mechanism 50 for ejecting the electronic card C from the accommodation slot 122. The card ejection mechanism 50 is assembled on the base 21, the tongue plate 12 and the first limiting core 13. It will be described in detail in the following paragraphs.

As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , the metal shell 40 is combined with the first insulating structure 10. The metal shell 40 of the present embodiment is a metal plate that is first formed with an opening at a predetermined position by a stamping process, and then bent to form an upper plate portion 40a and a lower plate portion 40b that are relatively arranged. The upper plate portion 40a and the lower plate portion 40b cover the first insulating structure 10 from above and below. The left and right side edges of the upper plate portion 40a and the lower plate portion 40b are bent and covered on the first limiting core 13 and the second limiting core 14. Finally, the left and right sides of the metal shell 40 are fixed by snap-fitting structures 41 on the left and right sides. The metal shell 40 has a docking port 42 formed at one end corresponding to the tongue plate 12, and a docking space 43 is formed between the upper plate portion 40a and the lower plate portion 40b and between the first limiting core 13 and the second limiting core 14 for inserting the electronic card C and the male electrical connector.

The metal shell 40 further includes a clamping spring 44 formed on the upper plate portion 40a and bent toward the receiving slot 122 so that the clamping spring 44 interferes with the electronic card C and abuts against the electronic card C. The clamping spring 44 applies force to press the electronic card C so that the electronic card C remains positioned in the receiving slot 122.

Please refer to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 , the metal housing 40 further includes two first limit springs 45 and two second limit springs 46. The first limit spring 45 is formed on the upper plate portion 40a, and the second limit spring 46 is formed on the lower plate portion 40b. The first limit spring 45 is bent toward the first surface 1211 of the tongue plate body 121 to limit the insertion of the male electrical connector and the electronic card C in the docking space 43. The second limit spring 46 is bent toward the second surface 1212 of the tongue plate body 121 to limit the insertion of the male electrical connector in the docking space 43.

Please refer to FIG. 10 , FIG. 11 , FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 , the card ejection mechanism 50 includes a push member 51 , a lever member 52 and an operating member 53 . As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the lever member 52 is pivoted to a rotating shaft body 111 of the base 11 of the first insulating structure 10. The rotating shaft body 111 is a convex column protruding from the upper surface of the base 11. The lever member 52 has an axial hole 521 for rotatably coupling to the rotating shaft body 111. The push member 51 and the operating member 53 abut against an edge 522 of the lever member 52, and the push member 51 and the operating member 53 are respectively located on both sides of the rotating shaft body 111. The edge 522 of the lever member 52 forms a recess 523 on one side of the push member 51 for matching the configuration of the push member 51.

The pusher 51 is movably disposed in the receiving groove 122. The pusher 51 includes a pusher body 511, a stopper 512, and a protrusion 513. One end of the pusher body 511 abuts against the electronic card C, and the other end of the pusher body 511 abuts against one end of the lever 52. The stopper 512 extends along the first direction L1 from the end of the pusher body 511 abutting against the electronic card C. The stopper 512 can abut against the surface of the electronic card C to prevent the electronic card C from shifting upward when the pusher 51 pushes the electronic card C. The upper plate portion 40a of the metal housing 40 has a guide groove 47. The protrusion 513 is movably engaged with the guide groove 47. The pusher 51 moves along the first direction L1 by the protrusion 513 being movably engaged with the guide groove 47.

The operating member 53 abuts against the other end of the lever member 52. A guide groove 131 extending along the first direction L1 is formed on the side of the first limiting core 13 of the first insulating structure 10 away from the tongue plate 12, and an operating recess 132 is formed on the side of the first limiting core 13 close to the docking port 42. The operating member 53 has a narrow plate-shaped structure, which extends along the first direction L1 and is disposed in the guide groove 131. One end of the operating member 53 abuts against the lever member 52, and the other end is bent to form a pushing portion 531 that is flat toward the front for the user to push. The pushing portion 531 is located in the operating recess 132. When the user pushes the pushing portion 531, the pushing portion 531 moves in the operating recess 132 without interfering with the first limiting core 13.

The operating member 53 has a reset recess 532. The metal housing 40 has a reset spring 48 at a position corresponding to the operating member 53. The edge of the reset recess 532 abuts against the reset spring 48. When the user applies force to push the operating member 53, the reset spring 48 is elastically deformed. When the user releases the force, the elastic force of the reset spring 48 pushes the edge of the reset recess 532 to move the operating member 53 to reset. The operating member 53 further has a deformable beam 533 and a protrusion 534. The protrusion 534 is disposed on the deformable beam 533. When the user applies force to push the operating member 53, the protrusion 534 interferes with the metal housing 40 to cause the deformable beam 533 to be elastically deformed. Thus, when the user wants to push the operating member 53 , the user must apply a force exceeding a predetermined value to move the operating member 53 , and the user can feel the operation of pushing the operating member 53 .

As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 , when the user pushes the operating member 53 , the operating member 53 causes the lever member 52 to rotate clockwise around the shaft 111 . The rotation of the lever member 52 causes the push member 51 to move along the first direction L1 , so that the electronic card C moves out of the receiving slot 122 .

Please refer to Figures 14, 15 and 16, which show an embodiment of the electrical connector assembly of the present invention. The electrical connector assembly of this embodiment includes the above-mentioned electronic card and male electrical connector dual-accommodation composite female electrical connector 1 and a male electrical connector 2. The male electrical connector 2 includes a second insulating structure 60 and a plurality of third terminals. The second insulating structure 60 includes a docking groove 61, and the docking groove 61 is combined with the tongue plate 12 of the first insulating structure 10, so that an inner surface of the docking groove 61 covers the accommodating groove 122. A plurality of third terminals are combined with the second insulating structure 60 and extend into the docking groove 61. When the docking groove 61 is combined with the tongue plate 12, the third terminals are in contact with the second terminals.

The composite female-end electrical connector for accommodating both the electronic card and the male-end electrical connector of the present invention forms an accommodating groove on the first surface of the tongue plate body of the first insulating structure, so that the electronic card can be accommodated in the original electrical connector interface, and no additional interface is required to accommodate the electronic card, so as to solve the problem that the existing technology has multiple dispersed interfaces that are not conducive to the thin design of electronic devices. The size of the electronic card of the present invention is relatively small and can be completely placed in the accommodating groove of the tongue plate. When the male electrical connector and the female-end electrical connector are connected, the male-end electrical connector will not interfere with the electronic card, and the two can be used at the same time.

However, what is described above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it cannot be used to limit the scope of the implementation of the present invention. That is, all simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the scope of the patent application and the new description of the present invention are still within the scope of the present invention. In addition, any embodiment or patent application of the present invention does not need to achieve all the purposes, advantages or features disclosed by the present invention. In addition, the abstract and title are only used to assist in searching for patent documents, and are not used to limit the scope of rights of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", etc. mentioned in this specification or patent application are only used to name the name of the element or distinguish different embodiments or scopes, and are not used to limit the upper or lower limit of the number of elements.

1: Composite female electrical connector for accommodating both electronic card and male electrical connector 2: Male electrical connector 10: First insulating structure 10a: First insulating portion 10b: Second insulating portion 10c: Third insulating portion 11: Base 12: Tongue plate 13: First position limiting core 14: Second position limiting core 20: First terminal 20a: First docking portion 20b: First fixing portion 20c: First welding portion 30: Second terminal 30a: Second docking portion 30b: Second fixing portion 30c: Second welding portion 40: Metal shell 40a: Upper plate 40b: Lower plate 41: Buckle structure 42: Docking port 43: Docking space 44: Clamping spring 45: First limit spring 46: Second limit spring 47: Guide groove 48: Reset spring 50: Card ejection mechanism 51: Pushing member 52: Lever 53: Operating member 60: Second insulating structure 61: Docking groove 111: Rotating shaft 121 Tongue plate body 122: Accommodating groove 511: Pushing member body 512: Limiting part 513: Protrusion 1211: First surface 1212: Second surface 521: Shaft hole 522: Edge 523: Recess 131: Guide groove 132: Operating recess 531: Pushing part 532: Reset concave part 533: Deformable beam part 534: Protrusion C: Electronic card L1: First direction L2: Second direction P: Circuit board

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the electronic card and male electrical connector dual-containment composite female electrical connector of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the electronic card and male electrical connector dual-containment composite female electrical connector of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the configuration of the first terminal and the second terminal of the electronic card and male electrical connector dual-containment composite female electrical connector of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another perspective of the configuration of the first terminal and the second terminal of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 to FIG. 8 are perspective views of the assembly process of the electronic card and male electrical connector dual-containment composite female electrical connector of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another perspective of the electronic card and male electrical connector dual-containment composite female electrical connector of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional view showing the combination of the card ejection mechanism of the composite female-end electrical connector for dual accommodation of the electronic card and male-end electrical connector of FIG. 1 and the first insulating structure. FIG. 11 is a three-dimensional view showing the combination of the card ejection mechanism of the composite female-end electrical connector for dual accommodation of the electronic card and male-end electrical connector of FIG. 1 and the metal shell. FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the card ejection mechanism of the composite female-end electrical connector for dual accommodation of the electronic card and male-end electrical connector of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of the electrical connector combination of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a top view of FIG. 14. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 15 along line A-A.

1: Composite female electrical connector that can accommodate both electronic card and male electrical connector

10: First insulation structure

12: Tongue plate

40:Metal shell

42: Docking port

43: Docking space

50: Card return agency

51: Push piece

53: Operating parts

C: Electronic card

P: Circuit board

Claims (9)

A composite female-end electrical connector for accommodating both an electronic card and a male-end electrical connector, comprising: A first insulating structure, comprising a base and a tongue plate, the tongue plate extending from one side of the base along a first direction, the tongue plate comprising a tongue plate body and a receiving slot, the tongue plate body having a first surface and a second surface arranged opposite to each other, the receiving slot being formed on the first surface, and the receiving slot being used to accommodate an electronic card; A plurality of first terminals, combined with the first insulating structure, each of the first terminals having a first mating portion, a first fixing portion and a first welding portion, the first mating portions of the first terminals being located in the receiving slot and contacting a plurality of contacts of the electronic card; A plurality of second terminals are combined with the first insulating structure, each of which has a second docking portion, a second fixing portion and a second welding portion, and the second docking portions of the second terminals are located on the second surface; A metal shell is disposed on the first insulating structure, the metal shell surrounds the tongue plate to form a containing space, one end of the metal shell forms a docking interface for a male electrical connector to dock, and a plurality of third terminals of the male electrical connector are in contact with the second terminals; It further includes a card ejection mechanism, which includes a pusher, a lever and an operating member. The lever is pivoted to a rotating shaft of the first insulating structure. The pusher is movably arranged in the receiving groove. One end of the pusher abuts against the electronic card, and the other end of the pusher abuts against one end of the lever. The operating member abuts against the other end of the lever. The operating member and the pusher are located on opposite sides of the rotating shaft. The receiving groove opens at the front end of the tongue plate. A composite female-end electrical connector that can accommodate both an electronic card and a male-end electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the metal shell has a guide groove that extends along the first direction, and the push member has a protrusion that is movably engaged with the guide groove, and the push member moves along the first direction by being movably engaged with the guide groove through the protrusion. A composite female-end electrical connector that accommodates both an electronic card and a male-end electrical connector as described in claim 1, wherein the operating member has a reset recess, and the metal shell has a reset spring sheet, the edge of the reset recess abuts against the reset spring sheet, when force is applied to push the operating member, the reset spring sheet undergoes elastic deformation, and when the force is released, the elastic force of the reset spring sheet pushes the edge of the reset recess to reset the operating member. As described in claim 1, the composite female-end electrical connector that accommodates both the electronic card and the male-end electrical connector, wherein the operating member further includes a deformable beam and a protrusion, and the protrusion is arranged on the deformable beam. When force is applied to push the operating member, the protrusion interferes with the metal shell to cause the deformable beam to undergo elastic deformation. As described in claim 1, the composite female-end electrical connector that can accommodate both an electronic card and a male-end electrical connector, wherein the first insulating structure further includes two limiting cores, the two limiting cores extend from the base along the first direction and the tongue plate is located between the two limiting cores, and the operating member is disposed on one of the limiting cores. As described in claim 1, the composite female-end electrical connector can accommodate both the electronic card and the male-end electrical connector, wherein the metal shell further includes a clamping spring, which is bent toward the accommodation slot and interferes with the electronic card and abuts against the electronic card. As described in claim 6, the composite female-end electrical connector that can accommodate both an electronic card and a male-end electrical connector, wherein the metal shell further includes at least one first limiting spring sheet bent toward the first surface of the tongue plate to limit the male-end electrical connector. As described in claim 6, the composite female-end electrical connector that can accommodate both the electronic card and the male-end electrical connector, wherein the metal shell further includes at least one second limiting spring sheet bent toward the second surface of the tongue plate to limit the male-end electrical connector. An electrical connector assembly, comprising: A composite female electrical connector that can accommodate both an electronic card and a male electrical connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 8; and A male electrical connector, comprising: A second insulating structure, the second insulating structure comprising a docking groove, the docking groove being combined with the tongue plate of the first insulating structure so that an inner surface of the docking groove covers an accommodating groove; and A plurality of third terminals, combined with the second insulating structure and extending into the docking groove, wherein when the docking groove is combined with the tongue plate, the third terminals are in contact with the second terminals.